157th Infantry Brigade
The 157th Infantry Brigade is a US Army Reserve Training Support Brigade [TSB]. The Brigade's mission is to provide pre-mobilization leader and collective training assistance and support. The Brigade's main focus is providing training support, assistance, and evaluation to client units. The Brigade also provides assistance to civilian authorities during peacetime crises and/or natural disasters.
The 79th Division "Liberty" Division; also known as the "Lorraine" Division, was a National Army division established 5 Aug 17 by the War Department to be formed at Camp Meade, MD. Draftees were from Pennsylvania and Maryland. Movement overseas commenced on 6 July 1918 and was completed by 3 August 1918. Primary units included the 157th Infantry Brigade, consisting of the 313th Infantry Regiment, 314th Infantry Regiment, and 311th Machine Gun Battalion. The 157th Infantry Brigade was commanded by Brig. Gen. William J. Nicholson. One the Army's most expert calvary officers, he was seldom seen off his horse at Camp Meade. The 157th was part of the 79th Division commanded by Maj. Gen. Joseph E. Kuhn. Shrouded in secrecy, they left from Hoboken NJ. in July 1918 on the U.S.S. Leviathan, a speedy ex-German liner that arrived at Brest France the morning of July 15 1918. They trained for two months at Champ Litte behind the French lines. On September 26, 1918 they "went over the top" in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. In a period of heartbreaking losses, the men struggled through nine kilometers of barbed wire and pot-marked earth. They destroyed German defenses that were said to be impregnable. That night they were on the outskirts of Montfaucon, headquarters of the enemy command. The 313th fought until the end, November 11, 1918. Gen. John J. Pershing commended the men of the 79th Division, and especially the 313th Infantry Regiment whose forces penetrated deeper into enemy territory then any other outfit.
As of 1963 the 157th Infantry Brigade was headquartered in Chester, PA.
